12496: A husband has not been fulfilling his responsibility towards his wife for five years

If the husband does not take the responsiblity of a wife throughout his marraige of 5 years . what is the wife suppose to do in such case, Is she entitled to maintaince, or if she decides to have a seperation what is the procedure for the divorce according to Quran and sunnah?

Praise
be to Allaah.

Undoubtedly it is the husband’s obligation to spend on
his wife and to do his duty towards her and give her all her rights.
If he fails her and falls short in his duties towards her, or he causes
her harm, then she has the right to demand separation, i.e., divorce.
But before that she has to ask him to spend on her and provide her with
accommodation, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Lodge them (the divorced women) where you dwell,
according to your means” [al-Talaaq 65:6]

“Let the rich man spend according to his means; and
the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what
Allaah has given him. Allaah puts no burden on any person beyond what
He has given him”[al-Talaaq 65:7]

And he has to live with her honourably. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):

“and live with them honourably”[al-Nisaa’ 4:19]

If her husband gives her her rights as prescribed in
sharee’ah, then it is haraam for her to ask for divorce, because the
Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Any woman who asks
for divorce when there is no reason, the fragrance of Paradise will
be forbidden to her.” But if she is being harmed, and the situation
is too much for her to bear, and he is not spending enough on her or
he is not giving her her rights, then she has the right to ask for a
divorce. She should go to the qaadi and explain the situation to him,
and he in turn should ask the husband to give her her rights or to divorce
her.